Neck load attenuator for a restraint system

ABSTRACT

A restraint system is disclosed having an attenuator that attenuates the loading forces transmitted through the restraining system to the occupant&#39;s neck and shoulder areas during a crash, while at the same time increases the occupant&#39;s comfort during restraint usage. The attenuator is comprised of a pad constructed of a rate sensitive foam and enclosed in a casing.

ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention described herein was made by employees of the United States Government and may be used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a restraint system to hold a person steady in a seat as during the takeoff in an airplane or while driving a car, and more particularly, to a neck load attenuator for restraint system that attenuates the loading forces transmitted through the restraining system to the neck and shoulder areas of the occupant of the seat during a crash, while at the same time increases the occupant's comfort during restraint use.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Restraint systems used on planes and cars are well known. These restraint systems commonly utilize belts, such as car seat belts or straps, which when given a sharp tug having a force of the kind that might occur in a crash, secures the driver or passenger in his/her seat. The seat belt remains unlocked when pulled slowly allowing normal movement in the seat occupied by the user of the belt. The restraint system commonly has an assembly that restrains movement in a crash situation and typically comprises an inertial reel, as well as a belt-buckle locking arrangement all known in the art. Under typical crash conditions, loading forces are generated that are transmitted through the restraint system to the occupant's body areas. It is desired that an attenuator be provided to attenuate these loading forces, especially those transmitted to the neck and shoulder areas of the occupant during a crash, while at the same time increasing the comfort of the occupant during non-crash restraint conditions.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is a primary object of the present invention to provide for a neck load attenuator for a restraint system.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide for a neck load attenuator that not only attenuates undesired loading forces, but also provides comfort of use of the restraint system during non-crash conditions.

[0008] Still further, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a cushion area between the occupant's shoulders and neck to increase occupant's comfort while using the restraint system.

[0009] Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a neck load attenuator that is relatively inexpensive, lightweight, and that provides comfort and crash forces attenuation to the occupant without compromising emergency egress.

[0010] In one embodiment, the restraint system comprises an arrangement of straps at least one of which comprises a shoulder strap comprised of webbing and having one end affixed to an assembly for restricting movement of a person situated in a seat. The shoulder strap has an upper shoulder restraint area. The shoulder restraint area is located near the neck region of the person being held in a seat. The restraint system further comprises an attenuator for attenuating the loading forces transmitted through the system to the neck and shoulder area of the person occupying the seat. The attenuator comprises a casing, a pad, a piece of material placed on the casing and covered with a hook configuration, and a flap of material placed on the casing and a portion covered with pile configuration. The casing is locatable under at least a portion of the upper shoulder restraint area of the at least one shoulder strap. The pad is enclosed in the casing and comprised of a foam material. The flap of material is located over at least a portion of the upper shoulder restraint and so as to be releasably engaged with the hook configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Features and advantages of the invention, as well as the invention itself, will become better understood by reference to the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers designate identical or corresponding parts thereof and wherein:

[0012]FIG. 1 depicts the system of the present invention used to hold a person steady in a seat;

[0013]FIG. 2 illustrates the attenuator of the present invention free of the shoulder straps for purposes of clarity;

[0014]FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of shoulder strap, in particular, an upper shoulder restraint area of the shoulder strap and an attenuator for attenuating loading forces;

[0015]FIG. 4 is composed of FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) that cumulatively illustrate the pad of the attenuator of the present invention; and

[0016]FIG. 5 is composed of FIGS. 5(A), 5(B) and 5(C) that cumulatively illustrate the casing that forms part of the attenuator of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] With reference to the drawing, FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 having an assembly 12 that restricts movement and holds a person 14 steady in a seat 16. The assembly 12 is known in the art and commonly comprises an inertial reel and a belt-buckle locking arrangement all known in the art and, more particularly, cooperates with an arrangement 18 of straps, at least one of which, but preferably two comprising shoulder straps 20 and 22. The arrangement 18 further comprises pelvic restraining straps 24 and 26.

[0018] Although FIG. 1 shows a four (4) point static restraining system comprised of pull down shoulder straps 20 and 22 and pull up pelvic restraining straps 26 and 28, the system may comprise a three (3) point static restraining system, or a five (5) point static restraining system both known in the art. The four (4) point static restraining system, generally illustrated in FIG. 1, further comprises a buckle 28 permanently attached to one of the pelvic restraining straps 24 or 26.

[0019] At least one, but preferably both shoulder straps 20 and 22, are comprised of webbing and have one end affixed to the belt lock of the assembly 12. The shoulder straps 20 and 22 each have an upper shoulder restraint area 30 located near the neck 32 of the person being held as well as resting on the shoulder 34 of the person being held. The upper shoulder restraint area 30 of each of the shoulder straps 20 and 22 has pile fastener tape attached underneath having typical dimensions of a width of about two (2) inches and a length of about five (5) inches. The upper shoulder restraint area 30 of each of the shoulder straps 20 and 22 has a portion covered with an attenuator 36 having a first section or high side 38 that faces toward the neck 32. The attenuator 36 is covered by a casing 40 shown by stippling and having a flap 42 and may be further described with reference to FIG. 2.

[0020] For the sake of clarity, the attenuator 36 of FIG. 2 is shown free of its placement relative to the neck 32 and shoulder region 34 and its respective shoulder strap to be further described with reference to FIG. 3. Further, the attenuator 36 is shown in its non-engaged or open position, that is, with its flap 42, preferably comprised of the same material making up the casing 40, raised upward. The flap 42 has an upper portion 44 comprised of a pile, fastener tape having typical dimensions of about 0.5 inches in width and about three (3) inches in length.

[0021] The attenuator 36 further has a first piece of material 46 and a second piece of material 48, separated by a gap 50, and both of which materials 46 and 48 are actually affixed to the casing 40 in a manner to be further described with reference to FIG. 5. The first piece of material 46 comprises a hook fastener tape having typical dimensions of about 2.0 inches in width and about three (3) inches in length. The second piece of material 48 comprises a hook, fastener tape having typical dimensions of about 0.5 inches in width and about three (3) inches in length.

[0022] The attenuator 36 further comprises a pad 52 that includes the first section making up the high side 38, as well as a second section 54. The flap 42 abuts up against the first section 38 when raised upward and its upper portion 44 is comprised of pile fastener tape that releasably engages the second piece of material 48 comprised of the hook fastener tape when the flap 42 is placed into its operational position, which may be further described with reference to FIG. 3.

[0023]FIG. 3 illustrates one of attenuator 36, although the following description is applicable to both attenuators 36 on both sides of the neck 32, as having its flap 42 placed over the shoulder strap 20 and having the piles of its upper section 44 releasably engaged with the hooks of the second piece of material 48. The hooks of first piece of material 46 are located under the shoulder strap 20 and frictionally engage with the mating surfaces of the shoulder strap 20 comprised of a pile fastener tape having typically dimensions of a width of about two (2) inches and a length of about five (5) inches.

[0024] Each of the attenuators 36 attenuates the loading forces, commonly created during a crash condition, transmitted through the system 10 to the neck 32 and shoulder area 34 of the person 14 occupying the seat 16. Each of the attenuators 36 comprises the pad 52 composed of first sections 38 and 54 and which may be further described with reference to FIG. 4 composed of FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B).

[0025]FIG. 4(A) shows the first section 38 and the second section 54 as being affixed to each other by a suitable adhesive 56 such as MIL-A-5540B or 1357 made available from military stock system. The first section 38 has a width 58 typically about 1 inch and a length 60 typically about 5 inches. The second section 54 has a width 62 typically about 3 inches and a length typically about 5 inches.

[0026]FIG. 4 (B) illustrates the first section 38 as having a thickness 64 which is typically about 1 inch and the second section 54 having a thickness 66 which is typically about 0.5 inches.

[0027] The pad 52 is constructed of a rate sensitive foam, wherein the first section 38 may be comprised of a conformal foam type CF47100 and the second section 54 may be comprised of a conformal foam type CF47050 with both types being known in the art and made available from distributors for EAR specialty composites. The use of the term “rate sensitive” herein is meant to represent that the pad 52 possess cushioning efficiency which is in relation to the impact energy density. The pad 52 is enclosed by the casing 40, which may be further described with reference to FIG. 5 comprised of FIGS. 5(A), 5(B), and 5(C).

[0028] The casing 40, shown by stippling of FIG. 5, is preferably comprised of a material that has inherent heat and flame-resistant properties such as that made available from E.I. duPont de Nemours and company as their Nomex® material.

[0029]FIG. 5(A) illustrates a top view of the casing 40 with the flap 42, also preferably formed of the Nomex® material, in its raised position. The casing 40 has two regions 68 and 70 with region 68 confining the first section 38 of the pad 52 and the region 70 confining the second section 54 of the pad 52. The second region 70 is segmented into sub-regions 72, 74, and 76 with the central sub-region 74 holding the flap 42, and the first and second pieces of materials 46 and 48 and with the flap 42 and materials 46 and 48 attached thereto by appropriate means, such as stitching.

[0030]FIG. 5(B) is a bottom view of the casing 40 and shows stitching 78 comprised of segments 78A, 78B, 78C and 78D, with segment 78A running along the top of casing 40, as viewed in FIG. 5(B), segment 78B running along one of the sides of casing 40, segment 78C running along almost all of the bottom of casing 40, and segment 78D running along the other side of the casing 40.

[0031]FIG. 5(C) is a side view of the casing 40 and shows stitching 80 that runs in a continuous manner around each side of the casing 40 as shown in FIG. 5(C). The stitching shown in FIGS. 5(B) and 5(C) allow the pad 52 to be securely confined in the casing 40.

[0032] It should now be appreciated that the attenuator 36 consists of a pad 52 constructed of a rate sensitive material that is enclosed in the casing 40 preferably comprised of a material having flame-resistant properties. The attenuator 36 utilizes hooks and piles for maintaining proper positioning relative to its associated shoulder strap and to allow ease of removal and repositioning.

[0033] The attenuator 36 is a passive system and is located under the upper shoulder restraint area 30 resting against the occupant's shoulder 34 and neck area 32. During the donning of the arrangement 18, the attenuator 36 provides a cushion area between the occupant's shoulder and neck to increase the occupant's comfort. During a crash situation, the attenuator 36 attenuates the loading forces to the occupant's neck and shoulder areas.

[0034] In the practice of the present invention, testing was performed and it was determined that the attenuator 36 attenuates 35% percentage of the loading forces that are typically transmitted through the restraint system to the occupant's lower neck area during typical crash conditions.

[0035] It should now be appreciated that the practice of the present invention provides for a system 10 having a neck load attenuator 36 that attenuates loading forces transmitted through the restraint system 10 to the occupant's neck and shoulder area during a crash, while at the same time increases the occupant's comfort during restraint usage.

[0036] It is understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments herein illustrated and described and may be otherwise without departing in the spirit and scope of the invention. 

What we claim is:
 1. A system having an assembly that restricts movement and holds a person steady in a seat, said assembly having a belt lock, said system comprising: a) an arrangement of straps at least one of which comprises a shoulder strap comprised of webbing and having one end affixed to said belt lock, said shoulder strap having an upper shoulder restraint area and located near the neck region of a person being held in said seat; and b) an attenuator for attenuating the loading forces transmitted through the system to the neck and shoulder area of the person occupying said seat, said attenuator comprising: (i) a casing locatable under at least a portion of said upper shoulder restraint area of said at least one shoulder strap; (ii) a pad enclosed in said casing and comprised of a foam material; (iii) a piece of material placed on said casing and covered with hook configuration; and (iv) a flap of material placed on said casing and covered with a pile configuration and located over at least a portion of the said upper shoulder restraint area and so as to releasably engage with said hook configuration.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said foam material is a rate sensitive foam.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said foam material is comprised of first and second sections affixed to each other by an adhesive.
 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said first section is locatable closer to said neck than said second section.
 5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said first and second sections have respective thicknesses of about 1 inch and about 0.5 inches.
 6. The system according to claim 3, wherein said first section has a width of about 1 inch and length of about 5 inches.
 7. The system according to claim 3, wherein said second section has a width of about 3 inches and a length of about 5 inches.
 8. The system according to claim 5, wherein said first section is comprised of conformal foam type CF47100 and said second section is comprised of conformal foam type CF47050.
 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said casing is comprised of a material having heat and flame-resistant properties.
 10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said casing is comprised of a Nomex® material. 